League

AEK FC
Spectators: 7770 (Terracing: 5828, Seating: 1787, VIP seats: 155) Apostolos Iordanopoulos started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Ilias Panopoulos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Efthimis Papastavrou, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. Aston Villa's Zisis Volanis suffered a sore thigh after 5 minutes and couldn't finish the game. After 5 minutes, Manolis Kafetzis mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the AEK THESS and the Aston Villa players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Aston Villa booed when AEK THESS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Manolis Kafetzis didn't get a good kick on the ball. 9 minutes into the match, Aston Villa's goal looked a bit too open when Apostolos Iordanopoulos came free, but Themis Kyriakopoulos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 15 minutes into the game, Soulis Kounadakis cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Themis Kyriakopoulos was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. An unexpectedly hard shot by Apostolos Iordanopoulos in the 20th minute of play forced Aston Villa's goalkeeper Themis Kyriakopoulos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ilias Panopoulos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Efthimis Papastavrou in the 21st minute of the match. With a little luck, Aston Villa's Themis Kyriakopoulos got control of the ball when Soulis Kounadakis tried to sneak it across the goal line. Soulis Kounadakis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Themis Kyriakopoulos read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 27th minute of play. If Soulis Kounadakis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Aston Villa's goalkeeper couldn't reach when Apostolos Iordanopoulos 30 minutes into the game got a good kick on the ball which found its way into goal just inside left pole. 2-0. In the 33rd minute, Vassilis Thomakoglou hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Efthimis Papastavrou struck a weak shot in the 36th minute. Ilias Panopoulos didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Aston Villa. Akis Vyntra sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Efthimis Papastavrou stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After 52 minutes, Nikos Kasidokostas mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the AEK THESS and the Aston Villa players grew even worse after the yellow card. Nikos Kasidokostas kicked well hit freekick during the 52nd minute of the match. When Efthimis Papastavrou came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Aston Villa fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Efthimis Papastavrou couldn't finish the play. Soulis Kounadakis fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Themis Kyriakopoulos having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 63rd minute, Efthimis Papastavrou managed to get in a good position for a shot. Aston Villa's supporters rose to their feet, but Efthimis Papastavrou was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ilias Panopoulos breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Panos Karalis could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 65th minute of the match, but Ilias Panopoulos made a huge save. When AEK THESS's Soulis Kounadakis in the 67th minute got a chance for a shot 67th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Aston Villa's goalie prevented a goal. Soulis Kounadakis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Themis Kyriakopoulos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Apostolos Iordanopoulos in the 73rd minute of play. Aston Villa's Themis Kyriakopoulos played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Apostolos Iordanopoulos in the 83rd minute of play. 84 minutes into the game, Akis Vyntra was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Aston Villa's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave AEK THESS the free kick. After a rather tough play, Aston Villa's Akis Vyntra got a free kick in the 84th minute. AEK THESS's Soulis Kounadakis got a good chance for a goal in the 87th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Themis Kyriakopoulos showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Apostolos Iordanopoulos, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. After a rather tough play, AEK THESS's Aris Chronoulis got a free kick in the 94th minute.